Marco Bezzecchi
The struggles of Francesco Bagnaia at Ducati were under scrutiny for the entirety of the 2025 MotoGP season, and Aprilia boss Massimo Rivola has explained why he found the ordeal ‘sad’.
Francesco Bagnaia’s fall from grace within the ranks of Ducati was one of the biggest overarching storylines during the most recent MotoGP campaign.
After battling for a title in the previous four seasons heading into 2025, and proving to be successful in two of those attempts, the Italian rider had cemented himself as one of the most formidable riders on the grid.
However, Bagnaia struggled to get to grips with the GP25, and his woes were magnified by Marc Marquez’s sheer dominance on the prototype.
The 28-year-old’s future at the factory Ducati outfit was thrown into question as a result of his inability to adapt to the most recent spec of bike, despite the fact that his ambition is to ride for the Borgo Panigale-based team for the rest of his career.
Francesco Bagnaia on his MotoGP future
Aprilia boss explains why he found it ‘sad’ watching Francesco Bagnaia at Ducati this year
In an interview with MotoGP journalist Cosimo Curatola on his own YouTube channel, Aprilia Racing team boss Massimo Rivola explained why he sympathises with the downtrodden Italian rider following the inexplicable issues he contended with alongside Marquez.
Asked for his opinion on the turn in form, Rivola said, “Now that’s a tough question. Of course, it made me sad.
“But I have to say that after someone has had nearly perfect seasons like his, because sure, Jorge won the championship, but this guy had won several races, so he’s shown a lot of speed. That can’t be questioned.
“This is the big advantage that a smaller company like ours, compared to Honda, must focus on. The person makes the difference, human relationships make the difference, feelings, and the connection make the difference.
“The mechanical side is often the result of many other small things. Looks matter a lot in the garage because the rider is an animal; they are no more sensitive than that.
“And so if he sees eyes next to him that believe, he believes a little more too. But I repeat, I don’t want to go into details because I’m not in the garage, I can’t judge.
“I can only say he’s a world champion, multiple times. What are we even talking about? They must have had their problems, and I feel sorry for him.”
- READ MORE: Davide Tardozzi saw clear sign that Francesco Bagnaia ‘found his way again’ during the Valencia test
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Many figures within the MotoGP paddock expect Francesco Bagnaia to return to full form next season
Despite his inability to turn his fortunes around as the season progressed, many people within the MotoGP paddock believe that Bagnaia will hit the ground running next season and put the events of 2025 behind him.
Bagnaia’s 2024 premier class title rival, Jorge Martin, predicts that the Ducati rider will return to ‘top shape’ soon.
Martin is another rider who has had a sub-par season, mainly due to his lack of racing through numerous injuries that derailed his campaign.
Marquez believes Bagnaia still has a big part to play in Ducati’s ‘future’ in reference to the recent rumours of him potentially leaving the Bologna-based team.
Bagnaia was the first rider since Casey Stoner’s feat in 2007 to bring a riders’ championship back to Borgo Panigale, and has spent the entirety of his career in the premier class atop Ducati machinery.
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